The Science Behind Acupuncture
Dr. Andrew Dainsberg, DVM, CVA

How does acupuncture work? We know that it does work from thousands of years of experience. Yin and yang and traditional Chinese medical theory can explain it. But what about some "science?" Researchers have conducted scientific double blind studies to prove that it is not a placebo or hypnosis. Recently, researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to prove that acupuncture decreased certain brain activity in human volunteers experiencing pain. The decreased brain waves corresponded to lowered pain perception in the volunteers. Huey-Jen Lee, their chief neuroradiologist, stated "Western doctors have been reluctant to use acupuncture because they did not know why it was effective. Now we are learning more about the physical response created by acupuncture." Without a doubt, modern scientists have uncovered overwhelming scientific evidence that acupuncture works for many types of pain and disease. One only needs to tap the surface of readily available literature to encounter an exhaustive collection of scientific studies proving the efficacy of acupuncture...

So, how does it work?

Acupoints are tiny areas on the skin that contain relatively concentrated levels of nerve endings, lymphatics, and blood vessels. Acupoints can be readily identified by their lower electrical resistance, and are usually located in small palpable depressions detectable by trained acupuncturists. Stimulation from needling an acupoint initiates a complex cascade of events that have been studied, researched and grouped into Western theories that attempt to explain how acupuncture works.

Many theories have been proposed to explain the proven effects of acupuncture. It may be easiest to break the most plausible proposals into three summarized categories:
1) neurological 2) neuroendocrine and 3) locally mediated. Fasten your brain belts!

1) Neurological: Pain perception is altered through acupuncture's effects on specific nerve fibers. The "gate theory" proposes that acupuncture at acupoints stimulates peripheral nerves which sequentially turn off specific nerve fibers in the central nervous system to effectively cease the transmission of pain impulses and modulate disease. This is way more complex than it sounds! This theory is probably responsible for some of the effects of acupuncture but on the basis of several studies, cannot stand alone to account for all of the known effects.

2) Neuroendocrine: Neurotransmitters such as beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin, serotonin, and Substance P modulate the effects of acupuncture, resulting in physiologic effects on the body. The key to this theory is the proposal that structures other than nerves are responsible for some of acupuncture's effects. Studies have shown that veins and cerebral spinal fluid carry neurotransmitters and hormones that mediate effects such as pain control. Increasing white blood cell levels is a known effect of acupuncture that probably involves both neuroendocrine transmitters and the nervous system.

3) Local Mediation: Due to the concentration of nerve endings, certain cells and vessels at acupoints, a relatively large integrated response is created when acupoints are needled. This response launches an elaborate cascade of enzymatic, chemical and vasoactive changes that play a role in the proven results of acupuncture.

In summary, it seems that there are structures involved in carrying the effects of acupuncture. It would seem, as well, that there are messages being delivered that create balance, health and pain relief. Perhaps I am just a romantic, but maybe, when you attempt to splice the mystery out of the practice of acupuncture, you are furthering yourself from the answers...